by Jon Brown, MERIDIAN, Idaho – The hometown drivers were stingy Friday night at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.
Mike Murgoitio, the reigning track champion, found the right combination
prior to the 40-lap feature on the first night of the 96.1 BOB FM
Diamond Cup XXIV presented by GNO Jewelry. The result was his second
victory of the Canadian-American Western Winged Sprintcars Northwest
Asphalt Speedweek.
After he and his crew overhauled his No. 80 sprintcar, Murgoitio ran away from the field.
“This track threw us off a little bit,” Murgoitio said of his hometown asphalt. “Everybody in the pits was talking about what a different racetrack this was.
“We wholesaled it and struggled with it all night. What a great time to get it together for the main event.”
Murgoitio was followed in the finishing lineup by fellow Meridian racers Bryan Warf and Johnny Giesler.
“I really am a little disappointed,” Giesler said two nights after winning the Bob and Tom Naylor Classic 50. “We had a good car, but luck just wasn’t on our side.”
The win put Murgoitio two points away from Giesler in the WWS series standings after three races. After finishing second, first and third, respectively, in the first three WWS races, Giesler has 193 points.
In the standings for Diamond Cup XXIV, which is co-sanctioned by the ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association, Murgoitio holds a slim one-point lead over Jeff Montgomery of Langford, British Columbia. Giesler is third as only two points separate the top three drivers heading into Saturday’s finale.
After he and his crew overhauled his No. 80 sprintcar, Murgoitio ran away from the field.
“This track threw us off a little bit,” Murgoitio said of his hometown asphalt. “Everybody in the pits was talking about what a different racetrack this was.
“We wholesaled it and struggled with it all night. What a great time to get it together for the main event.”
Murgoitio was followed in the finishing lineup by fellow Meridian racers Bryan Warf and Johnny Giesler.
“I really am a little disappointed,” Giesler said two nights after winning the Bob and Tom Naylor Classic 50. “We had a good car, but luck just wasn’t on our side.”
The win put Murgoitio two points away from Giesler in the WWS series standings after three races. After finishing second, first and third, respectively, in the first three WWS races, Giesler has 193 points.
In the standings for Diamond Cup XXIV, which is co-sanctioned by the ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association, Murgoitio holds a slim one-point lead over Jeff Montgomery of Langford, British Columbia. Giesler is third as only two points separate the top three drivers heading into Saturday’s finale.
Meridian Speedway
Canadian-American Western Winged Sprintcars
ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association
Northwest Asphalt Speedweek No. 3
96.1 BOB FM Diamond Cup XXIV
Presented by GNO Jewelry and Stinker Stores
Friday’s unofficial results
Main events
Diamond Cup XXIV Night 1 for Western Winged Sprints – 1. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, Idaho; 2. Bryan Warf, Meridian; 3. Johnny Giesler, Meridian; 4. Jeff Montgomery, Langford, British Columbia; 5. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho
Diamond Cup XXIV standings – 1. Murgoitio, 64 points; 2. Montgomery, 63; 3. Giesler, 62; 4. Warf, 58; 5. Scott Aumen, Duncan, British Columbia, 54; 6. Jackson, 49; 7. Ryan Burdett, West Jordan, Utah, 40; 8. Cody Veenstra, Meridian, 38; 9. Rick Brown, Springfield, Ore., 36; 10. Sara Henry, Nampa, Idaho, 35
Western Winged Sprints standings (after three races) – 1. Giesler, 193 points; 2. Murgoitio, 191; 3. 171; 4. Warf, 169; 5. Jackson, 142; 6. Burdett, 137; 7. Andy Alberding, Roseburg, Ore., 125; 8. Jimmy Waters, Salt Lake City, Utah, 116; 9. Wyatt King, Meridian, 113; 10. TJ Thorne, Herriman, Utah, 95
Western Winged Sprints trophy dashesCanadian-American Western Winged Sprintcars
ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association
Northwest Asphalt Speedweek No. 3
96.1 BOB FM Diamond Cup XXIV
Presented by GNO Jewelry and Stinker Stores
Friday’s unofficial results
Main events
Diamond Cup XXIV Night 1 for Western Winged Sprints – 1. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, Idaho; 2. Bryan Warf, Meridian; 3. Johnny Giesler, Meridian; 4. Jeff Montgomery, Langford, British Columbia; 5. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho
Diamond Cup XXIV standings – 1. Murgoitio, 64 points; 2. Montgomery, 63; 3. Giesler, 62; 4. Warf, 58; 5. Scott Aumen, Duncan, British Columbia, 54; 6. Jackson, 49; 7. Ryan Burdett, West Jordan, Utah, 40; 8. Cody Veenstra, Meridian, 38; 9. Rick Brown, Springfield, Ore., 36; 10. Sara Henry, Nampa, Idaho, 35
Western Winged Sprints standings (after three races) – 1. Giesler, 193 points; 2. Murgoitio, 191; 3. 171; 4. Warf, 169; 5. Jackson, 142; 6. Burdett, 137; 7. Andy Alberding, Roseburg, Ore., 125; 8. Jimmy Waters, Salt Lake City, Utah, 116; 9. Wyatt King, Meridian, 113; 10. TJ Thorne, Herriman, Utah, 95
(4 laps each)
A Dash – 1. Giesler; 2. Andy Alberding, Roseburg, Ore.; 3. Montgomery; 4. Scott Aumen, Duncan, British Columbia
B Dash – 1. Cody Veenstra, Meridian; 2. Matt Mansell, Victoria, British Columbia; 3. Sara Henry, Nampa; 4. Rick Brown, Springfield, Ore.
Heat races
(Eight laps each)
Western Winged Sprints
Heat No. 1 – 1. Veenstra; 2. Matt Hein, Roseburg, Ore.; 3. Montgomery; 4. Alberding; 5. Robert Beck, Redmond, Wash.
Heat No. 2 – 1. Wyatt King, Meridian; 2. Henry; 3. Murgoitio; 4. Aumen; 5. Ryan Burdett, West Jordan, Utah
Heat No. 3 – 1. Mansell; 2. Jackson; 3. Giesler; 4. Warf; 5. TJ Thorne, Herriman, Utah